My family and I started in the city, then moved to a one acre site. We had sheep and chickens at the house and had two horses boarded out. That is when we decided to move To The Country. Things just got too complicated and the entire family was committed to animals and the outdoors. We purchased a 20 acre hay field with beautiful views of mountains both north and south, We certainly did not expect the adventure we would be on for the next 30 years!

How do you start farming on a small farm? Very cautiously!

The first year we owned the land, we built our home, a simple farm house complete with a huge mud room (absolutely necessary) and an oversized garage. My husband and good friend transported our chicken coop to the land during mud season which proved to be an “interesting” task. We set up temporary pens for the sheep we owned, and bought horse panels to make a corral for the horses. We started our raised bed gardens to raise vegetables.

Needless to say, we needed a barn and built one during the second year. Fencing was constantly getting redesigned to accommodate the animals. However, by the end of the second year with lots of hard work, we had the place in pretty good shape and maintenance began.

We had to learn about irrigation, seeding and corrugating a pasture, hay storage, driving heavy equipment, and even drones. And that was just the beginning.

You can make money from your land, whether it is 4 acres, 20 acres, or a small patch of a backyard in town. With hard work and imagination, you can create a small business by exploring profitable ideas. To be successful, you need to have a plan before you move forward with any business start-up. 

I tell you all of this to show with hard work (and some money), you can build your own little piece of paradise. We have never regretted our decision “to move to the country.” I hope that you will enjoy your new life as much as we have!